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'Godzilla (1954)' Gets Criterion Blu-ray Treatment[teaser]Ishiro Honda's original king of movie monsters will be unleashed on Blu-ray this January! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will release 'Godzilla (1954)' on Blu-ray on January 24. 'Godzilla' is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. The Blu-ray will feature a new 1080p digital transfer, uncompressed mono soundtracks, and supplements include: Audio commentary by David Kalat (A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series); New high-definition digital restoration of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, starring Raymond Burr; Audio commentary for Godzilla, King of the Monsters by Kalat; New interviews with actor Akira Takarada (Hideto Ogata), Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai; Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube; Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects; New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato; The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo fukuryu maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla; Theatrical trailers; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Godzilla (1954)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where It is indexed under January 24.Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
'Star Wars' and 'Thor' Mark a Dramatic Surge in Blu-ray Sales[teaser]Physical media was also up for the first time in a while thanks to the pair of releases. [/teaser] It's not that Blu-ray is struggling, the format is actually selling quite nicely. It's just that Blu-ray isn't doing what investors and backers would like to see, they want it to absolutely dominate the market. (What's new, right?) In September, that's just what it did. The researchers over at iSuppli show that in the week that 'Star Wars' and 'Thor' were released on Blu-ray, sales of the format were up 131 percent over the year before. Keep in mind, 'Star Wars' was released on a Friday, so it only got to contribute a bit. The next week, Blu-ray sales were up 156 percent compared to last year. There's no question about the reason for the increase, but there is something significant to be looked at in terms of the rerelease of those blockbuster titles. If sales of Blu-ray players increased likewise with the Blu-ray disc sales, big catalog releases could mean very good things for the industry. It should also be noted that physical media as a whole - DVDs and Blu-ray Discs - was up one percent in the third week of September. It may not sound like much, but that's the first time the number has been positive in quite a while. Source: iSuppliPosted Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Traffic' Announced For Blu-ray[teaser]Steven Soderbergh's four-time Oscar-winning crime drama joins the Criterion Collection this January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion has revealed 'Traffic' for a Blu-ray release on January 17. The movie has already been released on Blu-ray by Universal and is reviewed here. With an innovative, color-coded cinematic treatment distinguishing his interwoven stories, Steven Soderbergh embroils viewers in the lives of a newly appointed drug czar and his family, a West Coast kingpin’s wife, a key informant, and police officers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Blu-ray will feature a restored digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Steven Soderbergh and supervising sound editor and rerecording mixer Larry Blake with 5.1 and 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks, and supplements will include: Three audio commentaries, featuring Soderbergh and writer Stephen Gaghan; producers Laura Bickford, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz and consultants Tim Golden and Craig Chretien; and composer Cliff Martinez; Twenty-five deleted scenes, with optional commentary by Soderbergh and Gaghan; Three sets of demonstrations: one on film processing and the look of the Mexico sequences; one on film editing, with commentary by editor Stephen Mirrione; and one on dialogue editing; Additional unused footage of various scenes, from multiple angles; Theatrical trailers and television spots; Gallery of trading cards depicting the U.S. Customs canine squad used to detect narcotics and illegal substances; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Manohla Dargis. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Traffic' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 17.Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Fright Night (2011)' Announced for Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D[teaser]The vampire remake starring Colin Farrell and Anton Yelchin hits Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Disney/Buena Vista says 'Fright Night' (Blu-ray/DVD) and 'Fright Night - 3D' (Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) are coming on December 13. Charley (Yelchin) is a high school senior who's on top of the world—he's running with the popular crowd and dating Amy (Imogen Poots, Jane Eyre), the most coveted girl in school. But trouble arrives when Jerry (Colin Farrell, In Bruges) moves in next door. He seems like a nice guy––at first. But there's something not quite right, and no one else, including Charley's mom (Toni Collette, The Sixth Sense) seems to notice. After his classmates start to mysteriously disappear without a trace, Charlie discovers that there is more to his new neighbor than meets the eye. The Blu-rays will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtracks, and supplements include: Gag Reel; Kid Cudi Music Video (uncensored version) - "No One Believes Me"; Peter Vincent: Swim Inside My Mind featurette; The Official "How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie" Guide featurette; Frightful Facts & Terrifying Trivia; and 5 Deleted Scenes with intros by Director Craig Gillepsie. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99 while the Blu-ray 3D combo is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Fright Night (2011)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 13.Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Redline' and 'First Squad: The Moment of Truth' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Anchor Bay gears up two highly-anticipated anime titles for Blu-ray this winter! [/teaser] 'Redline' won the Audience Official Selection Award for Animation at Fantasia and the Outstanding Achievement in Feature Filmmaking – Animation Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It has received rave reviews even from those admittedly not anime fans. From its premiere at Fantastic Fest, Harry Knowles said “Redline' should not be missed, everyone came out smiling and happy. FANTASTIC!” He called it the “…coolest 'Speed Racer' ever…and that counts the Wachowski film.” AnimeNewsNetwork.com called 'Redline' “… the most insanely exciting, visually exhilarating anime film you've seen in decades. Incredible fun!” 'First Squad: The Moment of Truth' has received several awards including the Asteroid Award for Best Feature at the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival and Kommersant Newspaper’s Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. Additionally, 'First Squad' was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Written by Katsuhito Ishii (director of 'The Taste of Tea,' 'Funky Forest,' 'Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl' and the anime segment of 'Kill Bill Vol.1') and directed by the up-and-coming Takeshi Koike, who participated in the “World Record” segment of 'Animatrix' (2003), 'Redline' was seven years in the making and proudly demonstrates the new possibilities of 2D animation, amidst the current prominence of 3D animation. 'Redline' is a racing film created by studio Madhouse ('Paprika,' 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,' 'Summer Wars'). 'Redline' is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including JP, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car - all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Amongst the other elite rival drivers in the tournament, JP falls for the alluring Sonoshee - but will she prove his undoing, or can a high speed romance survive a mass destruction race? Directed by Yoshiharu Ashino, 'First Squad: The Moment of Truth' is set during the opening days of World War II on the Eastern Front. Its main cast of characters is a group of Soviet teenagers, each with extraordinary abilities. The teenagers have been drafted to form a special unit to fight the invading German army. They are opposed by a Schutzstaffel (SS) officer who is attempting to raise from the dead a supernatural army of crusaders from the 12th Century Order of the Sacred Cross and enlist them in the Nazi cause. 'First Squad: The Moment of Truth' was produced by Eiko Tanaka, Misha Shprits and Aljosha Klimov. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Redline' and 'First Squad: The Moment of Truth' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under January 17.Posted Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Save $5 on 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 3D' on Blu-ray[teaser] Yo ho ho! Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back on Blu-ray and now Disney Movie Rewards has a pirates' booty for you! [/teaser] Disney has released another coupon offer this time to save $5 on 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 3D' Blu-ray available this week! From Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes all the fun, epic adventure and humor that ignited the original. Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. A tale of truth, betrayal, youth, demise — and mermaids! When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penélope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love or if she’s a ruthless con artist using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. Forced aboard the ship of the most feared pirate ever, Jack doesn’t know who to fear more —Blackbeard (Ian McShane) or the woman from his past. Directed by Rob Marshall, it’s filled with eye-popping battle scenes, mystery and all-out wit. Simply visit this page to print out your coupon from the Disney Movie Rewards website. This coupon is valid in the United States and Canada only and the offer expires October 23.Posted Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Final Destination 5' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Death will be spreading the holiday cheer by claiming more victims on Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has revealed 'Final Destination 5' will be available on December 27. The R-rated fifth chapter in the horror franchise once again sees group of people try and cheat death when Sam (Nicholas D'Agosto) has a premonition of a bridge collapse that was meant to claim their lives. Tony Todd also returns as the mysterious coroner William Bludworth. Specs have yet to be detailed for the Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo pack, but supplements will include: Circle of Death, Alternate Death Scenes, and Visual Effects of Death: Collapsing Bridge & Airplane Crash. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Final Destination 5' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 27.Posted Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'The Sound of Music: Limited Edition Collector's Set' Blu-ray Set is $32.99 at Amazon[teaser]Amazon's Gold Box deal of the day is the limited edition version of the classic musical on Blu-ray! [/teaser] The online retailer is selling 'The Sound of Music: Limited Edition Collector's Set' for $32.99 (63% off suggested list price). Share the magical, heartwarming true-life story that has become the most popular family film of all time - Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, the spirited young woman who leaves the convent to become governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp, an autocratic widower whose strict household rules leave no room for music or entertainment. The 3-disc set (2 Blu-rays and a DVD) features 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and loads of supplements including audio commentaries; Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration — all-new immersive viewing experience with behind-the-scenes images, on-screen lyrics, trivia track and location quiz; Music Machine Sing-Along; Musical Stages: Creating The Sound of Music — all-new interactive "backlot tour" with in-depth featurettes on the songs, the stage show & movie, the film and sound restoration and the real-life von Trapp family; and more! This individually numbered Limited Edition Collector's Set also includes the 45th Anniversary soundtrack; 100-Page "My Favorite Things" scrapbook; Snapshots from Salzburg; Reproduction of the original 1965 Souvenir program; and an exclusive "My Favorite Things" Music Box with letter of authenticity. Click here to order this definitive edition of the 1965 classic today! The deal is today only while supplies last.Posted Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 06:44 AM PDT by: -
'The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Mathayus returns to Blu-ray early next year, though it won't be much of a battle to redeem the travesty known as 'The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior.' [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption' will have a Blu-ray release on January 17. In a dangerous, action-packed battle to regain his glory and reclaim the empire, Mathayus’s journey is steeped in intrigue, sorcery and romance, fueling this new film that spawned from the billion-dollar 'The Mummy' film franchise. 'The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption' tops the series once again, featuring even more of the heart-stopping action, mind-bending stunts and astonishing plot twists that have earned the series millions of fans the world over. The film’s spectacular fight scenes, choreographed by renowned stunt experts Kawee “Seng” Sirikanerut ('Ongbak,' 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Civilization') and Supoj “Jimmy” Khaowwong ('Batman Begins), are showcased within enchanting ancient palaces, against a backdrop of breathtaking desert vistas. 'The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption' stars Golden Globe® winner Ron Perlman (“Sons of Anarchy,” 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army') as Horus, the powerful King of Egypt and Billy Zane ('The Roommate,' 'Titanic') as the villainous Talus. Directed by Roel Reiné, the film also stars Victor Webster (“Castle,” 'Surrogates') as Mathayus and UFC star Kimbo Slice ('Locked Down'), Bostin Christopher ('Unbreakable'); six-time WWE World Champion Dave Bautista ('House of the Rising Sun'), and Temeura Morrison ('Green Lantern,' 'Stars Wars: Episode 3 — Revenge of the Sith'), Selina Lo ('Shanghai') and Krystal Vee ('Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li'). The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Deleted Scenes Montage, Swords and Scorpions: Making of Featurette, Preparing for Battle, Deleted and Extended Scenes, Feature Commentary with Director Roel Reiné, Pocket Blu, BD-Live, and a Digital Copy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under January 17.Posted Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Avengers' Official Trailer Now Available[teaser]The Avengers Initiative has begun... and now we have our first glimpse at the star-studded Hollywood blockbuster assembling in 2012! [/teaser] Paramount and Marvel Studios have released the first official trailer for 'The Avengers' coming to theaters in May. Earth's mightiest heroes -- Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, replacing Edward Norton), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) -- join forces to save the world from annihilation in the big-budget actioner directed by Joss Whedon. The film is apparently shot in native 3D and has an estimated $150,000,000 budget. You can check out the trailer below: 'The Avengers' will hit theaters on May 4, 2012.Posted Fri Oct 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by:
